Tag Archives: Stanton Social

Most U.S.-based Jägermeister drinkers know it only as a chilled shot, a sweet, potent party-starter that’s easy to drink and is often associated with rock ‘n’ roll. In fact, this isn’t an ad, so let’s not mince words: Jäger’s about getting drunk, fast. Why else do you think so many bars have special Jäger-shot machines? Do your own research and ask the next person you see what their experiences with Jäger have been like. Chances are they involve a pretty wild party.

For its part, of course, Jäger doesn’t condone binge drinking, stating unequivocally that it "encourages responsible decision-making regarding the consumption of alcohol and discourages abusive consumption." That said, Jäger didn’t become the seventh largest selling premium spirit in the world from tweed-jacketed men sipping it out of brandy snifters in the study of some manor house. So it pretty much owns the woo-hoo! market, presenting it with a conundrum about how to grow further in an increasingly crowded field (Patrón shot, anyone?). Here’s what they came up with: using Jäger as a cooking ingredient to highlight its versatility. I recently tried a few Jäger-infused dishes at Stanton Social, courtesy of chef Chris Santos, and they tasted, well, woo-hoo!

Here’s why these recipes work: Regardless of the fact that Jägermeister is a favorite of fist-bumping bros and tanning-salon Traceys from LA to London, it’s actually quite a sophisticated spirit, with a history going back to 1934 Germany, when hunting enthusiast Kurt Mast first blended 56 different herbs, blossoms, roots and fruits into a bittersweet liqueur perfect for staying warm while tracking a herd of elk in the Alps. The next time you’re handed a Jäger shot, take your time and savor its complexity. There’s a lot going on in the glass.

That means there’s a lot going on in the recipes that feature Jäger as a component. I tried three different Santos-Jäger creations at Stanton Social (Santos also has the popular Beauty & Essex), each playing off a different component of the spirit.

The first, Jägermeister-kissed Chicken Skewers, really bring out the citrus notes, with a perfect mix of juiciness and crispness and a zingy flavor that penetrates the meat, thanks to its two-hour brining process and 24-hour marinade. It’s a perfect app for one-handed eating, saving the other for your shot glass. (Scroll down.)

The second dish was the Ultimate Charred Jägermeister Burger, a take on the classic burger. It uses Jägermeister in the burger blend, along with Worcestershire. It was tender, smooth, and very tasty. Santos served some onion rings on the side that featured no Jägermeister whatsoever, and were still good.

Santos must have been going from mild to wild in his presentation, because the third dish was the most decadent and delicious of them all: Black Cherry and Jägermeister Baby Back Ribs. With the ribs, Jägermeister makes an appearance in a sauce that also contains barbecue, mint, orange, and black cherry cola. I loved it, though I do have a penchant for barbecue.

The thing that makes Jägermeister fit so well in all these recipes is the same thing that makes it work in cocktails: its complexity and harmonious balance of flavors. Rather than just some dumb marinade that you slather on meat with a paintbrush, the Jägermeister brings out the best qualities of the base ingredients it’s used with, giving them a liveliness that adds depth to the food and makes it more fun to eat.

This is partly because Santos is a great chef, whose success in New York is now leading him to open a new restaurant in Las Vegas. Perhaps you’re a great chef too. If so, you may wish to enter a recipe into the Charred: Earn Your Place at the Pit barbecue contest that Santos is judging. Take a look at the recipes he created, try them out yourself, and then put your own spin on the cooking-with-Jägermeister idea.

Santos is also a cool guy to hang out and chat with, and we discussed everything from his heavy metal DJ sessions at a Brooklyn dive bar to the graceful aging of a rock ‘n’ roller, which involves ditching the cheap ripped jeans and ragged sneakers for, well, pricier, more stylish John Varvatos versions of the same things. Growing up doesn’t mean abandoning who you are.

Each morning, as I coffee my way to awareness, a blank Word doc stares at me. There are mornings, as I’m sure regular readers and editors understand, when I have little to say, or no time to say much. Sometimes it’s a matter of, “If I don’t have nothing nice to say then don’t say it,” while other mornings, the great story I went to sleep with wasn’t so great in the light of day. Yes, that does describe my dating before Amanda. Sometimes I have nothing to say because I promised not to say anything, even though the other blogs are all over it. As a designer involved in some projects of interest, I can often only read about what I’m doing, as non-disclosure agreements gag me from telling you the truth. Because of my schedule getting a half dozen joints open in September and another six ready for construction, I have internal debates that go like this: “Eat or write,” or “Sleep or design,” or “Breath or…” Well you get the idea. My desk is a heap of unopened envelopes, piles of notepads and gadgets with voices on them, half-empty cereal boxes, wood, wallpaper, stone and glass samples, and a very large cat.

Today I am meeting the players over at Lavo NY. I will sit down and chat with Noah Tepperberg, Jason Straus, Jayma Cardosa, and Rich Thomas. After the ”oohs and ahhs” and “how nices” and other obligatory wonderment at seeing a grand place for the first time, we will all sit down and chat. Part of that discussion will be about how they market their joints so that they compliment—not compete with—each other. Lavo principals also include Rich Wolf and Mark Packer. Who works where/owns what is too complicated to get into at this time of the day, but besides Lavo NY, these people operate Lavo Las Vegas, the Tao entities in NY and Vegas, Marquee, Stanton Social, Avenue , and some others. Not stepping on each other’s marketing feet is a great feat.

Part of the solution is defining the space for a specific type of crowd. From all reports, Lavo is being built for the Euro set and Midtowners. It could probably thrive just on the overflow from Tao across the street, but will most likely be defined as a playground for the jet set. Top tier organizations with multiple venues strategize how to not only secure the piece of the pie they are familiar with, but also how to secure compatible crowds. Moving and feeding multiple promoters, DJs, and management, from one venue to another, saves money. The ability to bring crowds common to one place to a soft night at another one of your properties spells success. The Tao Group will certainly not want to loose the Euros and South Americans that frequent Avenue, but will want to service them better at a joint built just for this crowd. At Avenue, the very fun Tuesday nights curated by Paul Sevigny have added enough diversity to legitimize the place for some downtown crowds without scaring away the base of monied players found there every night. The change in programming on Tuesday does “turn off’ some people, who avoid that night but come on another. This helps the venue last longer, as patrons don’t burn out so fast. I wonder if Lavo will have a night where downtowners will feel comfortable. The old adage is that downtown never goes uptown, while uptown will “slum down.”

In days of yore, clubs were often built to be populated with an exclusive but diverse crowd. Today, specific spaces service specific scenes. Spots today are often run by successful promoter types who parlayed the investment capital of friends and clients into small lounges, restaurants, or clubs. Most of these people hang with like-minded pals and rarely delve into other habitats where “different” types party. Diversity in nightlife is commonly missing. The addition of the two house haunts I mentioned yesterday will not change anything. Clubs like these—and Pacha and Cielo—don’t often acknowledge that music other than house is legit. With the exception of Webster Hall and Marquee and a couple of other joints, I am hard pressed to think of a place with more than one viable dance choice. There isn’t a place where diverse music on different dance floors mixes with people from all walks mingling and making each other tingle. The Kenmare is the best at mixing the crowds, but its music is not as diverse, and it is intimate and conversational rather than grand. 1Oak often offers musical diversity and crowds from different cultures, but it’s one medium-sized room. Every time I read about someone talking about bringing it back the way it was, I watch them build something for the way it is now. I think that’s a good idea, actually, as the mixing of musical genre’s, different classes of people, different sexual predilections, and different views is a job for a great operator. Although there are a few people out there capable of going this route, these respected fellows seem to be un-inclined to do so, or satisfied servicing their own core crowds. It could be done,,,but I’m not coming out of retirement.

Sigh. Will life ever be the same without Lost? All I can say is: Thank god Jack it didn’t end in the dead of winter, New York’s barren days of no other suitable distractions. With Spring comes a veritable shift in nightlife. Not only are rooftops reopening and patios getting their shine on, people start venturing out into nightlife’s brave new world. For those feeling inspired to jumpstart their social life, there are plenty of new offerings vying to be the jumper cables and a reckless jump into the Monday night party scene is a great way to feel out the buzz of summer while everyone waits for the barrage of summer openings and the usual Hampton circle-jerks. Here, some food and drinks news bites and options for a Monday night party

MONDAYLowdown: Monday night is for getting rid of your Sunday hangover, or for dragging it on for a few more days.

Hot Now: ● Stanton Social (Lower East Side) – Yes, still a great place to have a fun bite/Monday night drinks. ● Butter (Noho) – Not only is this a truly great place to get sloshed on Mondays but, as my rich older male pals say: I keep getting older and they just stay the same age. ● Black & White (Greenwich Village) – Restaurant becomes cramped, sexy, and very cozy after ten. ● Johnny Utah’s (Midtown West) Not everyone’s forte, but vampires, kids who say “fuck the PATH,” underage pretty chicks and people in the know ask: ‘who is forte?’ It’s still industry night here. Other Things to Try: ● Macao Trading Co. Drunken Dragon Festival: Sounds as fictitious as those “How Do You Celebrate” commercials for Las Vegas and the explanation of the event sounds even better. Macao Trading Co. celebrates a Monk who saved the Macanese People from a Drunken Dragon. The mythical event features a performance by the dance team, DANGERKAT interpretively slaying of the Drunken Dragon. The only important piece of information needed is the fact that there is an open bar from 8-10PM and—oh right—early 1900’s colonial or Chinese costumes required. Good luck with that. RSVP to: info@macaonyc.com. ● If you’re the type who likes to pair their local food with movies about their local food, might I suggest Hungry Filmmakers III, an eating/viewing event at the Anthology Film Archives that pairs excerpts from food-conscious documentaries like Lunch Line and Vanishing of the Bees with local snacks and Lagunitas beer. ● They say the economy is in recovery, but you’re boozing is not. Enter “Laid Off Mondays” at the Delancey, where the bartender will do more than sympathize with you’re lack of income, he’ll give you a free tequila shot if you can prove you are unemployed. ● If you think your place is a hole, you should check out Housing Works Bookstore Cafe tonight. Not that it will be messy, but Melissa Auf Der Maur will be there, screening the film portion of her multi-media project Out of Our Minds. The film is directed by Tony Stone and the book portion will be displayed while Melissa plays a set from the other part of the project.

Stanton Social, all “soft-focus lighting” and “yuppies with pretty girlfriends,” is tailor made for the “nouveau-riche glass and steel condo dwellers” of the LES. If you are there on “an awkward first date” or enjoy “Heineken, Amstel Light and Stella” and “work in high-end construction,” you’ll fit right in. If you don’t, it’s only made worse by the limited “stick-out-like-a-sore-thumb perched high on a barstool smack dab in the middle of the room” and “obscured in a corner somewhere among the 21st birthday parties” seating options. Choose the former to be reminded “bartenders are generous and fun to look at,” but if you are “trying to move past bartenders,” you should move past here. Be on the look out for “creepy old Steve Buscemi lookalikes” and “Naima, winner of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 4.” When the few “single men in the place fall at her feet,” that’s your cue to hit the road, alone.

Comfort level for a single lady(1-30): 5 Drinks purchased for a single lady: ½- it kinda doesn’t count if the bartender’s doing the buying. Male to female ratio: 1:1 Single to couple ratio: 1:4 Overheard: “I like people with A-personalities because they are their own brand. You look like you have an A-personality.”- Steve Buscemi-ish guy to his Tila Tequila-esque “date.” Chances of returning (1-30): 1- The Kobe beef sliders were pretty tempting.

Wednesday night, André Balazs accepted a small green KidRobot monster. There’s nothing quite like an awards ceremony to inject a little energy into nightlife, and the gracious Balazs excitedly accepting on behalf of his Standard Hotel promised energy is on the upswing. Just being in the same room as nightlifers like Six Six Sick and Harley & Cassie invigorated my addiction to the night, and I’m not the only one.

Perhaps it’s because people want their noms next year, but suddenly there is so much to do. The trees are getting trimmed and the eggnog is flowing freely with a number of places to partake in the merry-making. CV makes a splash with Diddy and Jay-Z paying it an Empire State visit and vies for a place on the Thursday-night party scene, with Amanda Leigh Dunn playing hostess to a downtown crew. Maialino gives you just one more reason to pop into the Gramercy Park Hotel. Suddenly we’re reminded how great the drinks taste at Macao and Apothéke. With wintery hideaways, new restaurant openings, and new faith in old parties, the holiday season is beginning to look a lot like New York Nightlife.

SUNDAY

Lowdown: There’s nothing like extending your weekend during the holidays. In fact, the holidays are one big weekend, starting with a nice cozy brunch, and easing into football or other day drinking opportunities. Which explains why Sundays are so very important. Hot Now: ● GoldBar (Nolita) – If gold is on your Christmas wishlist, indulge in the cozy gilded music hub. ● Sway (Sway) – Moroccan themed bar + holidays + booze + sketchy people = Sunday mental vacation. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – The Van Dam party isn’t by Jean Claude, but it’s still just as ass-kicking. ● White Slab Palace (Lower East Side) – Suddenly a staple! Worth a Look: ● Brooklyn Yard (Williamsburg) – Sunday Best in your Sunday’s Best! ● Charles (West Village) – Cozy charmer is quite possibly even more charming in the light of day. French toast, ricotta pancakes, eggs in the hole, and the lobster BLT balance custom cocktails that make you feel pretty darn good about drinking. Again.

MONDAY

Lowdown: Monday night means the beginning of your drinking week, the nearing end of your fantasy football league, and the drowning of sorrows and celebrating of victories. Here’s how we do it. Hot Now: ● Stanton Social (Lower East Side) – Yes, still a great place to have a fun bite/Monday night drinks. ● Butter (Noho) – Not only is this a truly great place to get sloshed on Mondays, I am now excited to admit it. There’s a cool, younger crowd that’s mixing in on Mondays and adding a bit of an edge to the festivities. Worth a Look: ● Black & White (Greenwich Village) – Restaurant becomes cramped, sexy, and very cozy during the holidays after ten. ● Warren 77(Tribeca) – Just right for football fans with a bit more flair. ● Johnny Utah’s (Midtown West) Those huge TVs! It’s like a co-ed college party for industry folks (and half of them are not watching football). ● Diesel Presents Danny Clark’s Monday Nights at The Ainsworth. It’s hosted every Monday Night by Giants Linebacker Danny Clark, and admission to the football party includes cocktails, beer, and food. All proceeds are 100% tax deductible and support the Danny Clark Foundation. Meh. ● Antik (Greenwich Village) – Okay, so Le Royale’s former party isn’t actually in Antik, it’s in the basement of Antik. We swung into the small, rock ‘n’ roll space it was small enough to feel really full, even on a slow night. Naturally, it heats up on the late side, after Monday Night Football has dissolved. Go to make friends.

TUESDAY

Lowdown: Gramercy has sharpened its edge, with a little help from Nur and a new resto. Hot Now: ● Rose Bar (Gramercy) – This really has a lot to do with Nur Khan, and now the music enthusiast is upping his game with Nur Kahn’s Rose Bar Sessions, featuring a band every Tuesday night. But they are secret shows. So shh. ● Maialino (Gramercy) – Now you can eat, stay, and party the whole way through the GPH. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – People were astounded to find this place under our Tuesday heading: “Duh, the hot nights are Monday and Wednesday, obvi.” Those people are right, but those people have never known the true Bea. And really, Avenue is good every night — right? ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – Right around the corner, the one-of-a-kind kids get the spillage of displaced hipster kids, who can’t decide between one gilded lounge or the other. Again, people agreed to disagree — and with a name like “Tight Jean Tuesday,” we know Jay-Z’s knots don’t fit. Others to try: Superdive(East Village) – Dear Santa: I would like kegs of champagne for Christmas, wheeled out to me by elves. Thanks. ● Simyone (Meatpacking District) – Might be able to add another notch on its belt; Tuesdays are hot at SL. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – Green is for garland and mistletoe! And Vodka!

WEDNESDAY

Lowdown: Hump day may prove to be a weekday favorite for the holiday season. Hot Now: ● Le Cubain (Lower East Side) – Great spot for pre-drinks and cheap eat with babes with bangs in boots and vintage fur coats. Maybe even make it downstairs for a Chloe revival — so cozy for the winter season. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – This is still 1Oak’s undisputed hot night. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – This one is in the basement, kids. Well, it’s in the whole of Greenhouse, but it’s better down below. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – Again, Avenue. But this is a raging night for the kids on the Ave. ● SL (Meatpacking District) – Tonight is the night for this Aalex Julian-guarded door. Worth a Look: ● Southside (Nolita) – Tutti, Franco, and Brion run the DJ booth. If you think you know, you have no idea. ● Eldridge (Lower East Side) – Rock and roll, yes. ● Von (Noho) – Party in the basement is “pretty packed and a lot of fun” for the Noho set after 10pm. ● Coffee Shop (Union Square) – One of the true day clubs, chocked full of promoters networking via text message; the basement named USL will be making random appearances throughout the week.

THURSDAY

Lowdown: This is Manhattanites’ Friday night, which could explain why Butter is moving their dancey Friday party — Whipped — to Thursdays come 2010. Dancing, dinner, glitz, and even some glam, without the B&T jam. Hot Now: ● CV (Lower East Side) – Something has finally been done with the oversaturated spot formerly known as 105 Rivington. Hopefully Amanda Leigh will continue with the feel good vibes and attract a good, loyal crowd. ● BEast (Chinatown) – Main Man, Ryan McGinley’s night of debauchery, is still in swing. Expect a Misshape or two, Sophia Lamar, and a band of insiders. ● subMercer(Soho) – You may have forgotten about this celeb-laden underground, but she’s back. Worth a Look:Avenue, Boom Boom Room and 1Oak are still a great standby for good times, while the down belows — USL (down below Coffee Shop) and Macao’s basement opium den are also a great place to begin your holiday descent. Coming Up: ● Butter (Noho) – Friday-night party Whipped is so fresh, most can’t believe it’s Butter. Resident hipster DJs Matt & Maia draw out big name fashion folks like Alexander Wang and the Ronsons.

FRIDAY

Lowdown: It used to be a day of rest for jaded New Yorkers, but since we’ve stopped bleeding moola, Friday’s a great day to cut loose. Civetta bit the dust for a bit, as we look to Santos’ Party House to bring it with their OPEN party. Hot Now: ● Boom Boom Room (Meatpacking District) – You probably won’t make it in like the rest of the plebeians (us included), but if you could, this would be the night to go. ● The Standard Grill (Meatpacking District) – What’s that, didn’t make it in to Boom? Luckily, the Grill is jumping with everyone else who tried their luck and are now eating duck (or crow); even the most beautiful, classy folks gather here, so it’s a hotspot nonetheless. Worth a Look: ● Home Sweet Home (Lower East Side) – Jonathan Toubin brings the fairly popular New York Night Train to this little living room on Friday nights. ● Santos’ Party House (Chinatown) – A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip. Upstairs. Funk.

Other Parties to Keep the Holidays Rolling: With Cafe Gitane in the Jane Hotel, the café with a devoted following in Nolita has taken root. And even better news? The Jane will be reopening the dancefloor to a bevvy of dance eccentrics and poseurs. If you are entertaining some out-of-towners on the weekends, Friday and Saturday nights at Highbar offers a nice (warm) view of the city. Fully heated and enclosed by glass windows — you don’t have to worry about the weather. Kittichai at 60 Thompson has just introduced three- and four-course prix fixe modern Thai menus for reasonably priced holiday meals. These are set menus served family style and available for 6 to 35 guests. A loophole to avoid Aunt Mildred’s meat pie!

An unassuming tourist type at an unassuming football bar tells me this: “New York restaurants are crazy! There’s a club in every basement!” I nod my head. He means RdV, the bass-thumping club below Bagatelle. “No,” says the unassuming tourist, “We were in some East Village pizza restaurant or something!” Jesus, it can be tough keeping up with the NYC Jones. There seems to be tons of hidden gems that try to stay away from the people like me who can write about them, Twitter about them, Facebook about them, and ultimately ruin them. Some things are worth keeping a secret, but when the party is in the basement of Coffee Shop or some media lunch spot that regularly gets off on decent press, it’s easy to broadcast. Some other things will remain a mystery, until I can fully understand if it’s an actual basement party or simply a couple of bus boys getting high between shifts.

SUNDAY

Lowdown: It’s been a while since the playing field has leveled, but it seems as though there are some new sketchy Sundays in our future. Hot Now: ● GoldBar (Nolita) – Some say this is as good as Sundays could get. ● Sway (Sway) – Moroccan-themed rocker. Share in the angst with La Lohan on Sunday-night Morrissey fests. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – Though it may have a troubled door, Green’s Sunday night has been thriving. Worth a Look: ● White Slab Palace (Lower East Side) – A pretty awesome Sunday-nighter, taking the back door while we all were watching the front for their awesome Friday-night party to return. Sunday is one to stumble into; don’t expect boldfaced names like on Fridays.

MONDAY

Lowdown: The Monday party is a Manhattan mainstay, but let’s not forget about Monday Night Football; we did, and accidentally found ourselves having an awesome time at sporty spaces. Hot Now: ● Antik (Greenwich Village) – Okay, so Le Royale’s former party isn’t actually in Antik, it’s in the basement of Antik. We swung into the small, rock ‘n’ roll space it was small enough to feel really full, even on a slow night. Naturally, it heats up on the late side, after Monday Night Football has dissolved. Go to make friends. ● Stanton Social (Lower East Side) – Yes, still a great place to have a fun bite/Monday night drinks. ● Butter (Noho) – Monday night was packed again, though curiously the party is getting to be a bit more hipster. Worth a Look: ● Black & White (Greenwich Village) – Restaurant becomes cramped, sexy, sweaty hotspot after ten. ● Warren 77(Tribeca) – Just right for football fans with a bit more flair. ● Johnny Utah’s (Midtown West) Those huge TVs! It’s like a co-ed college party for industry folks (and half of them are not watching football). ● Diesel Presents Danny Clark’s Monday Nights at The Ainsworth. It’s hosted every Monday Night by Giants Linebacker Danny Clark, and admission to the football party includes cocktails, beer, and food. All proceeds are 100% tax deductible and support the Danny Clark Foundation.

TUESDAY

Lowdown: Tuesday clubs and bars vie to be the next hip or hipster watering hole, as real hipsters finally venture out to the fancy clubs they previously ignored. How ironic. Hot Now: ● Rose Bar (Gramercy) – This really has a lot to do with Nur Khan, and now the music enthusiast is upping his game with Nur Kahn’s Rose Bar Sessions, featuring a band every Tuesday night. Last Tuesday it was Elefant. And it was awesome. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – Backlash! People were astounded to find this place under our Tuesday heading: “Duh, the hot nights are Monday and Wednesday, obvi.” Those people are right, but those people have never known the true Bea. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – Right around the corner, the one-of-a-kind kids get the spillage of displaced hipster kids, who can’t decide between one gilded lounge or the other. Again, people agreed to disagree — and with a name like “Tight Jean Tuesday,” we know Jay-Z’s knots don’t fit. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – And for the non-hipsters and everyone in between, go green. Others to try: Superdive(East Village) – Champagne Tuesdays at this place is kind of like that weird dream you had once about falling into a parallel world where people tapped Champagne bottles in lieu of kegs. Dreams do come true. ● Simyone (Meatpacking District) – Might be able to add another notch on its belt; Tuesdays are hot at SL.

WEDNESDAY

Lowdown: Hump day may prove to be a weekday favorite for the holiday season. RdV packed them in last night, Coffee Shop (???) and Norwood had a resurgence. Hot Now: ● Le Cubain (Lower East Side) – Great spot for pre-drinks and cheap eat with babes with bangs in boots and vintage fur coats. Maybe even make it downstairs for a Chloe revival. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – This is still 1Oak’s undisputed hot night. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – This one is in the basement, kids. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – Chelsea is hot on Thursday nights, thanks to Avenue. ● Simyone (Meatpacking District) – Tonight is the night for this Aalex Julian-guarded door. Worth a Look: ● Eldridge (Lower East Side) – Rock and roll, yes. ● Von (Noho) – Party in the basement is “pretty packed and a lot of fun” for the Noho set after 10pm. ● Coffee Shop (Union Square) – One of the true day clubs, chocked full of promoters networking via text message, the basement was taken over by Prince Peter. The basement? I didn’t even know that they had a basement …

THURSDAY

Lowdown: This is Manhattanites’ Friday night. Dancing, dinner, glitz, and even some glam, without the B&T jam. Hot Now: ● BEast (Chinatown) – Ryan McGinley’s night of debauchery is still in swing. Expect a Misshape or two, Sophia Lamar, and a band of insiders. ● subMercer(Soho) – You may have forgotten about this celeb-laden underground, but she’s back. ● Above Allen (Lower East Side) – The view looks really good on Thursdays at this lounge with a view. Apparently a good place for drinks before you actually go out. Worth a Look: ● Baddies (West Village) – Collette and a slew of good-looking guys and gals make this space a great after-dinner dance spot. ● Hotel on Rivington (Lower East Side)- At the penthouse, Madonna’s main squeeze is DJing. Again. Go bask in his good looks. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – DJ Tati brings a Brazilian flavor to Thursday. Events: Or should we say “the event of the century”? Diddy celebrates his 40th at The Plaza.

FRIDAY

Lowdown: It used to be a day of rest for jaded New Yorkers, but since we’ve stopped bleeding moola, Friday’s a great day to cut loose. Hot Now: ● Butter (Noho) – Friday night party Whipped is so fresh, most can’t believe it’s Butter. Resident hipster DJs Matt & Maia draw out big name fashion folks like Alexander Wang and the Ronsons. ● Boom Boom Room (Meatpacking District) – You probably won’t make it in like the rest of the plebeians (us included), but if you could, this would be the night to go. ● The Standard Grill (Meatpacking District) – What’s that, didn’t make it in to Boom? Luckily, the Grill is jumping with everyone else who tried their luck and are now eating duck (or crow); even the most beautiful, classy folks gather here, so it’s a hotspot nonetheless. Worth a Look: ● Civetta (Nolita) – Finally, a fun late-night spot to hit in this nabe? Steve Lewis says it’s true. ● Home Sweet Home (Lower East Side) – Jonathan Toubin brings the fairly popular New York Night Train to this little living room on Friday nights.

As the holidays near, it’s fun to roll the dice on what former hotspot will have a revival, or what invitees may finally get a glimpse of the most exclusive space by way of special event invitation. This week alone the The Bowery Hotel had a major resurgence, proving it’s a party player by hosting the annual Humane Society’s Cool vs. Cruel benefit, back-to-back with tonight’s Art Rocks! event. Same with the six-thousand-foot “local hang'” — The Ainsworth — which was ground zero for Stylecaster’s Short Films Premiere Party. Sienna and Savannah Miller hosted a dinner to celebrate their spring 2010 collection at the Royalton (not exactly the downtown scene we’d imagined for them). Party palaces also revive with extreme makeovers’ the closed 105 Rivington space — a splinter off of the Rivington Hotel — is getting a redux. It will be called CV, and it had a little show-and-tell this past Tuesday. All in all, the holiday times bring a little nightlife cheer in the form of new beginnings at old places, reminding people how awesome some of our nighttime landmarks can be.

SUNDAY

Lowdown: It’s been a while since the playing field has leveled, but it seems as though there are some new sketchy Sundays in our future. Hot Now: ● GoldBar (Nolita) – Some say this is as good as Sundays could get, but they got even better last weekend when they celebrated their big two-year anniversary with DJ Jesse Marco, Mark Ronson, Danny Masterson, and the like. ● Sway (Sway) – Moroccan-themed rocker. Share in the angst with La Lohan on Sunday-night Morrissey fests. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – Though it may have a troubled door, Green’s Sunday night has been thriving. Worth a Look: ● White Slab Palace (Lower East Side) – A pretty awesome Sunday-nighter, taking the back door while we all were watching the front for their awesome Friday-night party to return. Sunday is one to stumble into; don’t expect boldfaced names like on Fridays.

MONDAY

Lowdown: It’s true, Le Souk (East Village) is officially closed. East Villagers grievethe loss, sort of. But let’s not forget about Monday Night Football; we did, and accidentally found ourselves having an awesome time at sporty spaces. Hot Now: ● Antik (Greenwich Village) – Okay, so Le Royale’s former party isn’t actually in Antik, it’s in the basement of Antik. We swung into the small, rock ‘n’ roll space it was small enough to feel really full, even on a slow night. Naturally, it heats up on the late side, after Monday Night Football has dissolved. Go to make friends. ● Stanton Social (Lower East Side) – Yes, still a great place to have a fun bite/Monday night drinks. ● Butter (Noho) – Monday night was packed again, though curiously the party is getting to be a bit more hipster. Worth a Look: ● Black & White (Greenwich Village) Restaurant becomes cramped, sexy, sweaty hotspot after ten. ● Warren 77(Tribeca) – Just right for football fans with a bit more flair. ● Johnny Utah’s (Midtown West) Those huge TVs! It’s like a co-ed college party for industry folks (and half of them are not watching football). Events: On November 16, GuestofaGuest will be celebrating their new site design, with a Re-Design Party at 675 Bar.

TUESDAY

Lowdown: Tuesday clubs and bars vie to be the next hip or hipster watering hole, as real hipsters finally venture out to the fancy clubs they previously ignored. How ironic. Hot Now: ● Rose Bar (Gramercy) – This really has a lot to do with Nur Khan. This is certainly his Rose. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – Backlash! People were astounded to find this place under our Tuesday heading: “Duh, the hot nights are Monday and Wednesday, obvi.” Those people are right, but those people have never known the true Bea. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – Right around the corner, the one-of-a-kind kids get the spillage of displaced hipster kids, who can’t decide between one gilded lounge or the other. Again, people agreed to disagree — and with a name like “Tight Jean Tuesday,” we know Jay-Z’s knots don’t fit. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – And for the non-hipsters and everyone in between, go green. Others to try: Superdive(East Village) – Champagne Tuesdays at this place is kind of like that weird dream you had once about falling into a parallel world where people tapped Champagne bottles in lieu of kegs. Dreams do come true. ● Simyone (Meatpacking) might be able to add another notch on its belt, Tuesday are haute at SL. Events: ● Stylecaster brought out Matt&Maia and Steven Rojas to DJ a massive party at The Ainsworth — which they filled to the brim with downtown fashion folks.

WEDNESDAY

Lowdown: Hump day was hot last night, with friends proudly tweeting their whereabouts at Boom Boom Room (I’m not sure I know of a tweet with more pride behind it). Hot Now: ● Le Cubain (Lower East Side) – Great spot for pre-drinks and cheap eat with babes with bangs in boots and vintage fur coats. Maybe even make it downstairs for a Chloe revival. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – This is still 1Oak’s undisputed ‘hot’ night, but last night it was taken over (on the early side) for The Frisky’s Milestone Party. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – This one is in the basement, kids. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – Chelsea is hot on Thursday nights, thanks to Avenue. ● Simyone (Meatpacking District) – Tonight is the night for this Aalex Julian guarded door. Worth a Look: ● Eldridge (Lower East Side) – Rock and roll, yes. ● Von (Noho) Party in the basement is “pretty packed and a lot of fun” for the Noho set after 10pm. Events: Nigel Barker, Victoria Bartlett, Samantha Ronson came out to The Bowery Hotel for the Humane Society’s Cool vs. Cruel benefit. Next Wednesday, the 18th, head down to Yigal Azrouël for a completely different kind of party.The deconstructed hipster hot shop is having a serious sample sale from 9am until 7pm. Swill champagne and pick up Yigal’s Men’s Women’s and accessories for around 70% off. Pick up an outfit and maybe you’ll even pick up a cutie for a party later that night.

THURSDAY

Lowdown: This is Manhattanites’ Friday night. Dancing, dinner, glitz, and even some glam, without the B&T jam. Hot Now: ● BEast (Chinatown) – Ryan McGinley’s night of debauchery is still in swing. Expect a Misshape or two, Sophia Lamar, and a band of insiders. ● subMercer(Soho) – You may have forgotten about this celeb-laden underground, but she’s back. ● Above Allen (Lower East Side) – The view looks really good on Thursdays at this lounge with a view. Worth a Look: ● Baddies (West Village) – Collette and a slew of good-looking guys and gals make this space a great after-dinner dance spot. Events: ● Art Rocks! brings out Arden Wohl and John Whitledge of Trovata, ThreeAsFour, Tim Barber, DJ Cassidy, Luigi Tadini, Ally Hilfiger, Kipton Cronkite, Damon Johnson, Harley Viera Newton, Cassie Coane, DJ Jus Ske to The Bowery Hotel, yet again, to raise money and bring awareness to a serious rising epidemic such as Diabetes which is prevalent in the youth. The goal and hope of the benefit is that it will encourage the next generation of philanthropists, especially donors to the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center to raise funds to help further research for a cure. Next Thursday the 19th, head down to Yigal Azrouël for a completely different kind of party.The deconstructed hipster hot shop is having a serious sample sale from 9am until 7pm. Swill champagne and pick up Yigal’s Men’s Women’s and accessories for around 70% off. Pick up an outfit and maybe you’ll even pick up a cutie for a party later that night.

FRIDAY

Lowdown: It used to be a day of rest for jaded New Yorkers, but since we’ve stopped bleeding moola, Friday’s a great day to cut loose. Hot Now: ● Butter (Noho) – Friday night party Whipped is so fresh, most can’t believe it’s Butter. Resident hipster DJs Matt & Maia draw out big name fashion folks like Alexander Wang and the Ronsons. ● Boom Boom Room (Meatpacking District) – You probably won’t make it in like the rest of the plebeians (us included), but if you could, this would be the night to go. ● The Standard Grill (Meatpacking District) – What’s that, didn’t make it in to Boom? Luckily, the Grill is jumping with everyone else who tried their luck and are now eating duck (or crow). Luckily, even the most beautiful, classy folks gather here, so it’s a hotspot nonetheless. ● subMercer (Soho) – Two nights in a row, this spot is hot. Worth a Look: ● Civetta (Nolita) – Finally, a fun late-night spot to hit in this nabe? Steve Lewis says it’s true. ● Home Sweet Home (Lower East Side) – Jonathan Toubin brings the fairly popular New York Night Train to this little living room on Friday nights.

SATURDAY

Lowdown: Whether you are above or below 14th street, you should probably be planning on going out somewhere near to, or below 14th Street. Hot Now: ● Boom Boom Room (Meatpacking District) – If you were able to get a quick whiff of this space last week at The Last Magazine’s Halloween Party, you might have the balls to try your luck on a normal night. ● Lit Lounge (East Village) – Saturday night is grimy and fun! ● Bowery Hotel (East Village) – Simonez throws ragers here, spanning Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. ●subMercer(Soho) – Three nights in a row, this spot is hot.

Once again, the landscape of nightlife is a’changing. Sometimes, you have to stir up the water to catch a few fish, which is exactly what happened to us. East Village Monday-night favorite Le Souk lost its liquor license, forcing patrons to take their business to Le Souk Harem, but it’s the neighborhood that’s the real loser. Wandering aimlessly in search of something new and good on Sunday night, we found a new party at White Slab Palace. Places we’d long since wrote off somehow hit the spot if not filled the void. An object lesson on wandering outside your comfort zone.

SUNDAY

Lowdown: It’s been a while since the playing field has been leveled, but it seems as though there are some new sketchy Sundays in our future. Hot Now: ● GoldBar (Nolita) – Some say this is as good as Sundays could get. ● Sway (Sway) – Moroccan-themed rocker. Share in the angst with La Lohan on Sunday-night Morrissey fests. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – Though it may have a troubled door, Green’s Sunday night has been thriving. Worth a Look: ● White Slab Palace (Lower East Side) – A pretty awesome Sunday-nighter, taking the back door while we all were watching the front for their awesome Friday-night party to return. Sunday is one to stumble into; don’t expect boldfaced names like on Fridays.

MONDAY

Lowdown: It’s true, Le Souk (East Village) is officially closed. East Villagers grieve the loss, sort of. But let’s not forget about Monday Night Football; we did, and accidentally found ourselves having an awesome time at sporty spaces. Hot Now: ● Antik (Greenwich Village) – Okay, so Le Royale’s former party isn’t actually in Antik, it’s in the basement of Antik. We swung into the small, rock ‘n’ roll space it was small enough to feel really full, even on a slow night. Naturally, it heats up on the late side, after Monday Night Football has dissolved. Go to make friends. ● Stanton Social (Lower East Side) – Yes, still a great place to have a fun bite/Monday night drinks. ● Butter (Noho) – Monday night was packed again, though curiously the party is getting to be a bit more hipster. Worth a Look: ● Black & White (Greenwich Village) Restaurant becomes cramped, sexy, sweaty hotspot after ten. ● Warren 77(Tribeca) – Just right for football fans with a bit more flair. ● Johnny Utah’s (Midtown West) Those huge TVs! It’s like a co-ed college party for industry folks (and half of them are not watching football.)

TUESDAY

Lowdown: Tuesday clubs and bars vie to be the next hip or hipster watering hole, as real hipsters finally venture out to the fancy clubs they previously ignored. How ironic. Hot Now: ● Rose Bar (Gramercy) – This really has a lot to do with Nur Khan. This is certainly his Rose. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – Backlash! People were astounded to find this place under our Tuesday heading: “Duh, the hot nights are Monday and Wednesday, obvi.” Those people are right, but those people have never known the true Bea. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – Right around the corner, the one-of-a-kind kids get the spillage of displaced hipster kids, who can’t decide between one gilded lounge or the other. Again, people agreed to disagree — and with a name like “Tight Jean Tuesday,” we know Jay-Z’s knots don’t fit. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – And for the non-hipsters and everyone in between, go green. Others to try: Superdive(East Village) – Champagne Tuesdays at this place is kind of like that weird dream you had once about falling into a parallel world where people tapped Champagne bottles in lieu of kegs. Dreams do come true. ● Kiss & Fly (Meatpacking) – Threw Diddy’s party this week. Yes, Diddy. Does it mean a resurrection for a place that has lost its edge? We’ll have to check it out when it isn’t graced with Puffy’s presence. Also, an insider promises this is another awesome night for what may be an up-and-coming nightlife power spot. ● Simyone (Meatpacking) might be able to add another notch on its belt, we’ll see if they can maintain a good Tuesday next week. Events: ● The Standard hosted the likes of Garavani Valentino, Madonna and Adrien Brody at the Boom Boom Room for the DVD release of Valentino: The Last Emperor. By hosting all of the A-list parties, Boom will stay hot.

Valentino, Daphne Guinness at the Boom Boom Room

WEDNESDAY

Lowdown: Last week we told you to check out the new party at Hotel Gansevoort (Meatpacking) which turned out to be “miss-able,” as one nightlifer explained. Scott Sartiano’s 1Oak birthday was intimate, which opens up Wednesday for some serious mayhem tonight for those who didn’t make it past the gilded door. Hot Now: ● Le Cubain (Lower East Side) – Great spot for pre-drinks and cheap eat with babes with bangs in boots and vintage fur coats. Maybe even make it downstairs for a Chloe revival. ● 1Oak (Chelsea) – This is still 1Oak’s undisputed ‘hot’ night. ● Greenhouse (Soho) – This one is in the basement, kids. ● Avenue (Chelsea) – Chelsea is hot on Thursday nights, thanks to Avenue. ● Simyone (Meatpacking District) – Tonight is the night for this Aalex Julian guarded door. Worth a Look: ● Eldridge (Lower East Side) – Rock and roll, yes. ● Von (Noho) Party in the basement is “pretty packed and a lot of fun” for the Noho set after 10pm. Events: Waris Ahluwalia, Natalie Portman, Padma Lakshmi, and Tory Burch head to The Pierre tonight, to celebrate their love for India in Assouline’s latest publication, To India with Love. It’s a scrapbook of personal photos, stories, and memories from contributors like Adrien Brody, Diane Von Furstenberg, Elizabeth Hurley, Portman, and Owen Wilson, among others. Proceeds from the book go to Mumbai: We Got Your Back! (WGYB!), an organization founded by the three editors to raise spirits, especially after the terrorist bombings in Mumbai last year.

THURSDAY

Lowdown: This is Manhattanites’ Friday night. Dancing, dinner, glitz, and even some glam, without the B&T jam. Hot Now: ● BEast (Chinatown) – Ryan McGinley’s night of debauchery is still in swing. Expect a Misshape or two, Sophia Lamar, and a band of insiders. ● subMercer(Soho) – You may have forgotten about this celeb-laden underground, but she’s back. ● Above Allen (Lower East Side) – The view looks really good on Thursdays at this lounge with a view. Worth a Look: ● Baddies (West Village) – Collette and a slew of good-looking guys and gals make this space a great after-dinner dance spot. Events: ● Southside (Nolita) Celebrating their one-year anniversary with Funkmaster Flex.

FRIDAY

Lowdown: It used to be a day of rest for jaded New Yorkers, but since we’ve stopped bleeding moola, Friday’s a great day to cut loose. Hot Now: ● Butter (Noho) – Friday night party Whipped is so fresh, most can’t believe it’s Butter. Resident hipster DJs Matt & Maia draw out big name fashion folks like Alexander Wang and the Ronsons. ● Boom Boom Room (Meatpacking District) – You probably won’t make it in like the rest of the plebeians (us included), but if you could, this would be the night to go. ● The Standard Grill (Meatpacking District) – What’s that, didn’t make it in to Boom? Luckily, the Grill is jumping with everyone else who tried their luck and are now eating duck (or crow). Luckily, even the most beautiful, classy folks gather here, so it’s a hotspot nonetheless. ● subMercer (Soho) – Two nights in a row, this spot is hot. Worth a Look: ● Civetta (Nolita) – Finally, a fun late-night spot to hit in this nabe? Steve Lewis says it’s true. ● Home Sweet Home (Lower East Side) – Jonathan Toubin brings the fairly popular New York Night Train to this little living room on Friday nights. Events: ● The Koch Twins who have taken on Day&Night and made midday madness a mainstay in the brunching realm, will be taking on each other — boxing at Hammerstein Ballroom to support the Sunflower Children Organization.

SATURDAY

Lowdown: Last week was Halloween, so everything was heightened to be either really good or really bad. Luckily, this weekend doesn’t depend on costume and parades to meet your needs, just good booze and boozy scenes. Hot Now: ● Boom Boom Room (Meatpacking District) – If you were able to get a quick whiff of this space last week at The Last Magazine’s Halloween Party, you might have the balls to try your luck on a normal night. ● Lit Lounge (East Village) – Saturday night is grimy and fun! ● Bowery Hotel (East Village) – Simonez throws ragers here, spanning Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. ●subMercer(Soho) – Three nights in a row, this spot is hot. Events: ● Last week 1Oak teamed with Svedka to not only host a Halloween rager, but also ring in Penn Badgley’sBirthday.

Being a partier used to be as simple as throwing on a clean tee and getting out the door. Now, it’s work. The Jane was once our last great hope; it’s now all but shuttered. Just when we feel we’ve found our new home, a place where — if not everyone knows our name, at least they know our label — it loses its license, lease, or cool. If we were lazy, we’d advise you to try the Boom Boom Room every single night of the week, but if on top of the world isn’t really your scene, here’s what’s been moving and shaking amongst the movers and shakers this week. We’ll be trying them out one by one, consumed with the determination to find our Beatrice Inn incarnate.

Monday

Out: Le Royale’s le over, but the party’s moved on. Goldbar‘s dancey Monday night for industry/locals called it quits, probably because their staff was still too wasted from Sunday.

In:

● Antik (Greenwich Village): Where have all the Le Royale kids gone? They’ve carried on with Monarch Mondays, moving along with a stint at Above Allen, but this week found themselves at the little speakeasy bar below Antik. ● Stanton Social (Lower East Side): Monday nights here are, dare I say it: still fun after all these New York minutes. ● Butter (Noho): If last night was any indication, Butter was back (as if it ever left). The place was packed with a healthy mix, and it seemed like the usual suspects make Monday night a solid tradition here.

Out: Newish venues bask in the glow of venues now passed, and old standbys stay stable for the drinking occasion.

In:

● Rose Bar (Gramercy): Still kicking it with a mix of Gossip Girls, models and worldly travelers. ● Avenue (Chelsea): When nightlife all-stars work the door — the Beatrice’s Todd and Angelo team up with Wass for some reinstated Bea fun — and fashionable DJs like Lanvin enthusiast Mike Nouveau abound, it’s worth a revival of sorts. If they offered drink specials, this place would be a thorough hit with the downtown ‘it’ kids. ● 1OAK (Chelsea): Right around the corner, the one-of-a-kind kids get the spillage of displaced hipster kids, who can’t decide between one gilded lounge or the other.

Out: Chloe 81 used to own this night a mere year ago, and Southside used to be on top as well.

In:

● Le Cubain (Lower East Side): Once the spot for ‘new Beatrice‘ Chloe, Le Cubain, the restaurant above draws all sort of PYT’s, proving once again that restaurants add a whole other dimension to nightlife. Babes with bangs in boots and vintage fur coats abound, and eventually make it downstairs for a Chloe revival. ● 1OAK (Chelsea): This is still OAK’s undisputed ‘hot’ night, but it gets much hotter tonight, as Oak’s woodsman, Scott Sartiano will be celebrating his birthday. Expect the popping of many bottles of Dom. ● Greenhouse (Soho): This one is in the basement, kids.

Others: The Eldridge (Lower East Side) and their rock night with Mike Nouveau (again!) showed promise last week, so fingers crossed things add up. Meanwhile, the Hotel Gansevoort (Meatpacking) premieres Digital Wednesdays: a mix of media-ites, and the usual self-promoting party promoters. Hot spot? Doubtful, but we’ll check it, just to be sure.

Thursday

Out: Thursday has kept a nice collection of parties, favoring both A and D list. Thursday may be the new Monday.

In:

● BEast (Chinatown): Ryan McGinley’s night of debauchery is still in swing. Expect a Misshape or two, Sophia Lamar, and a band of insiders. ● subMercer(Soho): You may have forgotten about this celeb laden underground, but she’s back. ● Above Allen (Lower East Side): The view looks really good on Thursdays at this lounge with a view.

Others: Get spilled on in the hole-in-the-wall that collect’s BEast’s over spill at 169 Bar (Chinatown), or head to Baddies (West Village), where Collett and a slew of good looking guys and gals make this space a great after-dinner dance spot.

Friday

Out: It used to be a day of rest for jaded New Yorkers, but since we’ve stopped bleeding moola, Friday’s a great day to cut loose. B&T collectors like Griffin are done, while zip codes do most of the overall collecting.

In:

● Butter (Noho): Friday night party Whipped is so fresh, most can’t believe it’s Butter. Resident hipster DJs Matt & Maia draw out big name fashion folks like Alexander Wang and the Ronsons, and buddy up with special guest DJs like Interpol’s Paul Banks. Mixed clientele harbor a serious need to put on their dancing Miu Mius. ● Boom Boom Room (Meatpacking District): You probably won’t make it in like the rest of the plebeians (us included), but if you could, this would be the night to go. ● The Standard Grill (Meatpacking District): What’s that, didn’t make it in to Boom? Luckily, the Grill is jumping with everyone else who tried their luck, and are now eating duck. Luckily, even the most beautiful, classy of folks gather here, so it’s a hotspot, nonetheless.

Civetta (Nolita) Finally, a fun late-night spot to hit in this nabe? Steve Lewis says it’s true. Otherwise, head down to Home Sweet Home (Lower East Side), where Jonathan Toubin brings the fairly popular New York Night Train to this little living room on Friday nights.

Saturday

Out:Collective Hardware burned a floor or two, and if you aren’t in the loop, you probably wouldn’t know what the good nights are anyways. In any case, tonight is all about Halloween.

In: Goldbar (Nolita): Some say this is as good as Sundays could get. Some say you might still be wearing your Halloween hooker get-up from last night. If so, skip this place. Far too classy for the likes of you, missy. Sway (Sway): Moroccan-themed rocker. Share in the angst with La Lohan on Sunday night Morrissey fests. Greenhouse (Soho): Though it may have a troubled door, Green’s Sunday night has been thriving.

Others: At 1OAK (Chelsea), the boys have been trying to bring back 1Oak’s Sunday night. Might want to check in on their progress.